The Founding of Thorold

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted August, 2004

Photo by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted April, 2012

Plaque Location

The Region of Niagara
The City of Thorold
In Beaverdams Battlefield Park, about halfway between the
parking lot on Ormond Street South across from Portland Street
and the Sullivan Avenue pedestrian entrance

Coordinates: N 43 07.321 W 79 12.041

Plaque Text

During the construction of the original Welland Canal, 1824-1829, a number of communities sprung up along its length. Here, on land belonging to George Keefer, a village known as Thorold had developed by 1828. A large flouring mill was built on the canal and the Thorold Township post office was moved from Beaverdams to the new settlement by Jacob Keefer. By 1831 two sawmills were in operation and in 1835 the village contained 370 inhabitants. During the 1840's the building of the Welland Mills, then one of the largest flour mills in Canada, and the establishment of Ontario's first cotton factory, stimulated the community's growth. It was incorporated as a Village in 1850, as a Town in 1875 and as a City in 1975.

Related Ontario plaques
First Welland Canal
The Welland Mills
First Cotton Factory

More
Information

More
Settlements

More towns and cities in Niagara Region
Chippawa
Port Colborne
Port Robinson
Queenston
St. Catharines

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted December 19, 2012
I have an old Wesley's Hymns book that has been in my family for 4 to 5 generations and has a small sticker on the back inside cover "sold by Jacob Keefer Post Office Thorold, Ont. Does anyone know anything of the time frame books were sold there? Any other info?
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